Cartel Announce First New Album In Over A Decade, 'Learning How To Cope'

Cartel has announced that they will be releasing their first new album in over a decade, Learning How To Cope, on September 18th, 2026 via Field Day Records. The band has also unveiled two brand new tracks, “Deadbeat Drag” and “Shirts & Skins”.

In a press release announcing the album, vocalist Will Pugh stated the following:

“This music saved me. It helped me reconnect with empathy, with community and with the idea that everybody belongs. That ethos – honesty, openness, and taking care of your people – is what this record is built on. It feels different, but it still feels like Cartel.”

“We're way past the point of being able to sit back and just provide the safe space that people can go and get away from everything. Society has been doing that long enough and not having difficult conversations – and that's just kind of over. If you're not going to say something now, when are you ever going to fucking say something?”

You can check out the album artwork, along with both new songs, below.

Main Photo: Cartel / Jared Stossel